WATCH: The Justice Department has launched a federal investigation after a white police officer fatally shot a black man in North Charleston, SC Saturday. The officer is under arrest and as Susan McGinnis reports, the shooting was caught on tape and contains video that may be disturbing for some viewers.
TORONTO – A South Carolina police officer was charged Tuesday in connection with the shooting death Saturday of an unarmed black man after video surfaced appearing to show the officer shooting the man in the back as he fled.
Video obtained by the New York Times, shows a North Charleston police officer appearing to shoot a man identified by local media as 50-year-old Walter Scott. The officer, who is white, has been identified as Michael T. Slager, 33.
The video shows the officer firing eight shots at Scott’s back as Scott is running away. Scott falls on the eighth shot, fired after a brief pause. The video then shows the officer slowly walking toward him, and ordering him to put his hands behind his back.
WATCH: Cell phone video has surfaced showing a white police officer shooting an unarmed black man in the back as he ran away (WARNING: Viewer discretion advised)
North Charleston mayor Keith Summey announced the murder charge against Slager at a news conference Tuesday.
“When you’re wrong, you’re wrong,” Summey told reporters. “If you make a bad decision, I don’t care if you’re behind the shield or just a citizen on the street, you have to live by that decision.”
At a news conference Tuesday night, Scott’s family members said they are thankful for the video that led to a murder charge against the officer.
“I am reassured that after seeing the video which speaks for itself that any person in this country no matter what race you are can see that it’s murder,” said family attorney L. Chris Stewart. “I am disappointed that the initial reports were totally on the side of the officer.”
VIDEO GALLERY:
Scott’s brother, Anthony Scott, told reporters because of the video “we have received the truth” and “through the process, justice has been served.”
The Scotts’ mother, standing next to her husband, shouted out “Thank you, Lord!” and “Hallelujah!” as the news conference began.
“As we watched the news where the mayor announced that the officer would be charged with murder, everyone in the home started crying and hugging,” said Stewart. “It brought a short sense of relief and joy that the distance that we have to travel to try and get justice was beginning. And that for the first time in a long time an officer was going to be charged.”
According to The Post and Courier, the incident began after Scott’s vehicle was stopped for a broken tail light. Slager said he felt threatened when the driver tried to overpower him and take his Taser.
The video published by the Times, which was shot by a bystander, shows a brief scuffle between the officer and the victim before the victim runs away. The video then shows the officer firing several shots at the victim, who falls to the ground.
Justice Department spokeswoman Dena Iverson said the Federal Bureau of Investigation will also investigate the shooting.
At the earlier news conference with the mayor, North Charleston Police Chief Eddie Driggers appeared close to tears.
“I have been around this police department a long time and all the officers on this force, the men and women, are like my children,” he told reporters. “So you tell me how a father would react seeing his child do something? I’ll let you answer that yourself.”
Slager was denied bond at a brief first appearance hearing Tuesday. He was not accompanied by a lawyer. If convicted, he could face 30 years to life in prison. Slager also served in the United States Coast Guard and had been with North Charleston police for five years.
The shooting in South Carolina follows several high-profile incidents of police officers using lethal force, including the cases of Eric Garner in New York, Tamir Rice in Cleveland and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. The deaths have sparked a debate in the U.S. over whether police are too quick to use force, especially in cases involving black men.
-with files from Associated Press
Comments